CVE-2020-5025

Root code execution via db2fm buffer overflow

Published Mar 11, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Buffer overflow in db2fm in IBM Db2 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as root. IBM reports that db2fm performs improper bounds checking, allowing an oversized local input to overrun a buffer; the precise input path is undisclosed. Exploitation requires local host access and yields root-level code execution, allowing complete control of the affected process and its data.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.56%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in db2fm in IBM Db2 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as root. IBM reports that db2fm performs improper bounds checking, allowing an oversized local input to overrun a buffer; the precise input path is undisclosed. Exploitation requires local host access and yields root-level code execution, allowing complete control of the affected process and its data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5025
Published
Mar 11, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows
Classifications
CWE-120, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 11, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=10.1
  2. Affected versionversion=10.5
  3. Affected versionversion=11.1
  4. Affected versionversion=11.5
  5. Affected versionversion=9.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windowsversion=10.1; version=10.5; version=11.1; version=11.5; version=9.7

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.4IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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